IRMS Groups enable members to take a more active part in the Society. They provide opportunities for members to network with their colleagues and share their learning and experiences to the benefit of all.

Higher Education/ Further Education Group

The HE/FE Records Management and Information Compliance Group was established in 2006 after the merger of the HE and FE Records Management Group (which was established in late 2001) and the HE Information Compliance Group (which was established in late 2003).

The Group is currently run by a Steering Committee and is chaired in rotation by members of this Committee. Membership of the Steering Committee is currently Phil Oakman (University of Northampton), Fraser Marshall (De Montfort University), Lee Shailer (University of Reading) and Sam Mansfield (Open University). The listserv owners are currently Phil Oakman and Fraser Marshall.

The Group has a JISCmail listserv to which all members of the group are subscribed. The list has been established as a private list, which means that only the people subscribed to it may send messages and access the archives. The Group aims to promote and facilitate discussion between records management and information compliance professionals working in higher and further education institutions. It provides opportunities for the exchange of ideas through the listserv and meetings and hopes to encourage a consistency of approach across the higher and further education sector through mutual support and the sharing of knowledge and experience and to build relationships between fellow colleagues.

The HE and FE Information and Records Management Group decided in 2004 to become the HE and FE special interest group for the Information and Records Management Society (IRMS) and the Group receive publicity through this relationship. The Group and listserv currently have over 300 members based in higher and further education institutions throughout the UK and the Republic of Ireland. Membership is strictly limited to those working in HE and FE with responsibility for either (and) Records Management, Data Protection or Freedom of Information however there is no requirement for anyone joining the Group to be a member of the IRMS.